It wasn’t just the religious leaders or the soldiers that mocked Jesus, but also the two criminals that were crucified on either side of Jesus. But then something changed because the criminal on the right speaks up for Jesus, explaining that the two criminals are receiving their just due but “this man has done nothing wrong”. Turning to Jesus, he says “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom” Luke 23:42
What great faith this repentant sinner had in Jesus, far more than doubting Thomas! Jesus responded “Today you shall be with me in paradise”. Because of His great love for us, Christ Jesus died on the cross to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins.
As recorded in all four gospels, Jesus was mocked, scorned, and tortured. He carried His cross up the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem to Calvary and was nailed to it. ‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8.

It wasn’t just the religious leaders or the soldiers that mocked Jesus, but also the two criminals that were crucified on either side of Jesus. But then something changed because the criminal on the right speaks up for Jesus, explaining that the two criminals are receiving their just due but “this man has done nothing wrong”. Turning to Jesus, he says “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom” Luke 23:42
What great faith this repentant sinner had in Jesus, far more than doubting Thomas! Jesus responded “Today you shall be with me in paradise”. Because of His great love for us, Christ Jesus died on the cross to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins.
As recorded in all four gospels, Jesus was mocked, scorned, and tortured. He carried His cross up the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem to Calvary and was nailed to it. ‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.’ Romans 5:8.

Last week we looked at four views as to whether God still heals today or not. We also addressed a few hindrances to prayers for healing being answered and we dealt briefly with what it means to pray “in faith” for someone’s healing. But where does that power to heal come from?
Today we will see that it comes from the anointing and empowering of God’s Spirit that had come upon God’s people throughout history. This anointing with the Holy Spirit is also what enabled Jesus to heal and free people from demonic oppression. Are we willing to consistently pray for this filling with the Spirit to see what God might do within us and through us?

In the fall, our small group study was entitled The Miracles of Jesus. We then had a few messages relating to Christmas. This morning’s title is “Does God Still Heal Today?” Does God still heal people today or was that just reserved for the early church?
We will look at four basic attitudes towards this question from God doesn’t heal at all to He will always heal if there is faith. We will also address some reasons why people may not be healed and we will address the teaching of the “faith movement”.
Did Jesus heal everyone? Did He only need to pray once for people and then believe they were healed? We have to look at the “whole counsel of God” from the Bible about healing and not base our beliefs on just a few verses.

This morning we are looking at four words that speak of the significance of Christmas. We will look at the relevance, the reality, the reason, and the result of Christmas.
Christmas at one time had such an incredible significance they even began to date our calendars from the point of Jesus’ birth - BC and AD. BC is short for “Before Christ” and AD is short for the Latin Anno Domini or “in the year of our Lord.”
As a continuing effort to remove Christ and His influence from our society and world, some have already begun to use BCE (Before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) instead of BC and AD. But nothing can ever change the meaning and significance of Jesus coming into this world that first Christmas to go to the cross 33 years later.

This morning we are looking at Matthew 2:1-12 about the magi or wise men who came from Babylon to visit Jesus the Messiah and King. We will look at a few of the traditions of the wise men that are not biblically accurate.
This is not shared to encourage you to get rid of your manger scene. We have one under our tree. But it is important that we understand what is tradition and what is biblical truth, whether it is with Christmas or anything else.
How did these magi come up with this idea of the star leading them to the Messiah? We will also discover what the wise men teach us about seeking after Jesus.
There are a few things that could have hindered them from pursuing Jesus if they would have allowed them to. These same things can hinder us from pursing an initial and growing relationship with Him as well.

Next Sunday we will continue with our study on The Miracles of Jesus. Today we are looking at the importance of church membership.

Every professed Christian is called to be a disciple or follower of Christ. One definition of a disciple is, “A disciple of Christ is someone who is devoted to the person of Christ, to the people of Christ (His Church) and to the passion of Christ (His mission).”

We are going to look at the second part of that definition. A disciple of Christ to someone who is devoted to God’s church. They are devoted to, committed to, dedicated to God’s church.
Many people are content with dating the church. They want all the benefits without the responsibilities. God calls us to a deeper relationship with a spiritual family.

The Apostle John, as an eyewitness to all that was happening as Jesus was teaching in Capernaum, pretty much leaves it to Jesus to teach us what He wants us to understand. John tells us about the reaction to this teaching by these first century Jews.

In John 6:48-69 Jesus teaches that He is the living bread that has come down from heaven and whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood will have eternal life. He’s naturally not talking about cannibalism but what does He mean by these words? Many of His followers who did not understand Jesus’ teaching stopped following Him.
As we hear these words anew, my hope is that the Spirit will help us to understand this complicated piece of Scripture and not be offended or turn away. I believe it to be a wonderful prelude to our celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Last week we finished our 6 part series on The Lord’s Prayer dealing with Matthew 6:13 “and deliver us from the evil one.” We addressed who our spiritual enemy is and some of his tactics. This morning’s message is entitled Outward Focused Living. Our human nature has a bent to live for and please self yet as followers of Christ, God’s calling on our lives is to love and serve others in practical ways. The focus on our lives is to daily see how God can use us to be a blessing to someone else through our words and our actions.

How can God use us today to bless someone in a practical way? We will look at three truths we need to believe or accept as true if we are to live an outward focused, other person centered life.

The scripture today tells us the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus where we learn that there is an urgency for all of us in this life. We have a window of opportunity to make a decision to be obedient to God's commands. If we miss that window it will be too late for regrets. And we will also learn that our obedience has an eternal impact on others.

Our world has changed! Our culture no longer accepts the Ten Commandments as the basis for determining right and wrong. The phrase, "If it feels good, do it", better describes the attitude of the modern world.
So how do we live in this alien culture? How do we hold on to the Biblical standard when the culture is constantly undermining it?
I believe that Daniel faced the same question that we are asking today. When he was taken from Judah to Babylon, it was expected that he would become like his captors. But he didn't. He found the way to be God's agent in a strange land.